Anton Yelchin’s Parents Are Taking Legal Action, Here’s What We Know

Movie fans were stunned in June when Star Trek Beyond star Anton Yelchin tragically died in a "freak" car accident at only 27 years old. The actor had been a rising star in Hollywood for over a decade, and sadly, he was taken too soon. Over a month has passed since his tragic passing, and with August having just begun, Yeltsin's parents are taking legal action against Fiat Chrysler, the company which made the car that killed their son.

An attorney speaking on behalf of Anton Yelchin's parents, Victor and Irina Yelchin, (and reported by AP), recently announced that they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler. After exiting his Jeep Grand Cherokee on his property's driveway, which was on an incline, Yelchin was killed on June 19 when the car rolled backwards and pinned him against a pillar outside his home and a security fence. That particular Jeep model had been recalled earlier in the year due to gear shifting issues that led the cars to roll away unintentionally, and as of late June, a government investigation found that this problem had led to 266 crashes that injured 68 people. Although they expressed sympathy to the actor's family, Fiat Chrysler didn't comment on the lawsuit.

Along with the lawsuit, Anton Yelchin didn't leave a will behind, so his parents have filed to become the administrators of his estate, which is comprised of $641,000 of personal holdings and $731,000 in equity in his home. Because of Yelchin's tragic death, Fiat Chrysler has accelerated recalls of that Jeep model, but that doesn't change that the actor was taken much too soon. We'll see how this lawsuit plays out in the months ahead, but ideally the company taking increased action will make sure no one else is hurt or killed by these kinds of cars.

Aside from playing Pavel Chekov in the new Star Trek movies, his memorable performances over the last decade included Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation, Charlie Bartlett's eponymous character, Zack Mazursky in Alpha Dog, Clumsy Smurf in the Smurfs movies and Pat in Green Room. His posthumous projects include the recently-released Star Trek Beyond, We Don't Belong Here and Rememory. As for Star Trek 4, producer J.J. Abrams has confirmed that Chekov will not be recast, so it remains to be seen whether the character will be killed off or be transferred elsewhere. His Star Trekcostars, along with other big names in Hollywood, passed on their condolences shortly after his death was made public, but it's still being felt today.

If you want to see one of Anton Yelchin's last performances, Star Trek Beyond is still playing in theaters. We'll keep you updated with the lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler as more information comes in.